CHAMBERSBURG &GT;&GT; They were quite shocked to learn that broccoli is a flower and cucumber is a fruit.

A Wednesday trip to Wilson College's Fulton Farm for Sustainable Living dispelled a few common myths for 31 children from Building Our Pride in Chambersburg.

This is the first year for the Vegetable Literacy program that was created to educate visitors about the edible parts of plants and what is considered a fruit and vegetable, according to Chris Mayer, director of the farm.

"We want to help kids know about what is healthy," Mayer said. "We want kids to come up and 'veg out.'"

The idea for the program came after the result of a community health assessment survey by Summit Health that said Franklin County residents ate less fruits and vegetables then the recommended amount, Mayer said.

"I want to eventually create curriculum specific to Fulton Farm," she said. "Something that can be taught in schools."

After groups asked to visit, Mayer secured two grants to assist with the program: $8,000 from the Summit Endowment to address the nutritional deficiencies and $3,000 from the Department of Environmental Protection for environmental education.

Two environmental education coordinators, Annie Bingaman and Judy Scriptunas, teach the weekly groups from the Boys and Girls Club and the Lincoln Intermediate Unit's Migrant Education Program.

"We are looking for a 50-percent improvement rate," said Bingaman. "The goal for the program is for the kids to be vegetable literate and eventually, eat healthier."

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Fourth- and fifth-grade students watched as Mayer pointed out a drawing of roots, stem, head, fruit and flower and then asked children to tell her what parts were considered fruits or vegetables.

They were confident about pointing out the carrots and beets, but weren't so sure about the name of the leafy green vegetable kale or the root vegetable kohlrabi.

After a tour of the farm, including visiting the chickens — a high point for many of the kids — they were tested on what they learned and sampled some of what was collected, including carrots, cucumbers, cilantro, lettuce and kohlrabi.

Briana Harrison, 8, had no problem filling out the diagram of a plant, but depended on her peers and volunteers to match the names with what part they belong to.

"This isn't too hard," she said, as the table's occupants filled out the worksheet.

Still, she said there were things she learned from the experience.

"I didn't know a lot about roots and there are roots that we eat," she said.

Jaime Hurtado, 10, said his favorite part was when they picked kohlrabi out of the ground.

"It was really easy," he said.

Hurtado said his family has a garden at home, so he has picked things before, but enjoyed learning more about fruits and vegetables.

Elisa Green's table was going through their vegetables fast.

Green, 10, said that while the peas from the farm were "just okay," the cucumber and carrots were going fast.

"They are really good," she said.

"I really enjoyed tasting the vegetables," said Salvador Espinoza, 10. "I didn't get to try everything, but I liked a lot of it."

In the future, organizers said they hope to have children in elementary schools visit the farm during the school year.